Jewelry chain



Patented Feb. 2?, 192.65.

warren tartan ersur caries.

ALMYR L. NEVIMAN, OF .VAEWIICK, 15 4110133 ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO A. L, NEWMAN COMPANY, 03: CBANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, A CORIEORA TION OF REIODE ISLAND.

JEWELRY CHAIN.

Application filed November To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALMYR L. NEWMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at ar-wick, in the county of Kent, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jewelry Chains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to articles of jew elry and particularly to improvements in chains or tiexiblelink bracelets.

One object of theimprovement is to provide an article of the type specified which may be constructed of relatively light stock, while being strong and durable in use and substantial in appearance.

Another object oi the improvement is to provide a bracelet which, while being flexible to accommodate itself to the wrist of the wearer, will also be proof against lateral displacement or mis-alinement of its links.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a bracelet of neater and more ornamental appearance without unsightly joints or connections between its parts.

Another object of the improvement is to render the device simple in construction and economical to produce by the usual manuitaoturing processes.

Further objects of the improvement are se forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 a plan view of a portion 01": the chain or bracelet showing a plurality of its connected links;

Fig. 2, an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of several of the links of the bracelet taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, an enlarged bottom plan view of one oi? the links of the bracelet;

Fig. 4:, a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 5, an enlarged perspective view of one oi the intermediate connecting-1neu1bers for the links oi the bracelet;

F 6, a plan view of the connecting-link; and i I Fig. '7, an edge view of the'same.

lieterriug to the drawings, Fig. 1 illus rates in plan view several ot the main links 12 ot' the bracelet which are joined together by the smaller connecting-links 10. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the main link 2 comprififie an upper topqolate 4t which may s, 1923. Serial No. eraoso.

be of a general rectangular shape, or in other cases may have a more ornate outline or connguration. Usually Ll'lG top-plate d is slightly arched or crowned to adapt the outer exposed surface of the bracelet to conform to the curve of the wrist on which it is worn. To heighten its ornamental effect its surface may be engraved, embossed, enameled or otherwise embellished as by piercing through the metal. The top-plate 4, as shown in Fig. 1, has opposite straight edges on its longitudinal sides and is beveled or tapered off towards its ends, giving it somewhat of an oval form. At either end of the t0p-plate are inte ral depending tabs 5 projecting downwardly at substantially right-angles, see Fig. 4, and adapted to be bent into circular loops to serve as the hinges for connecting the links together.

Spaced below the under side of the topplate at of the main link 2 is a base-plate 6 conforming in general outline to the shape of thetop-plate. As shown in Fig. 3, the base-plate 6 is of substantially oblong shape with its cornersbeveled in accordance with the bevel of the edges of the top-plate. The baseplate 6 is of less length than the topplate 4 and is preferably pierced at its center with an opening 7 which may boot any suitable configuration, the object being to remove the stock to lighten the bracelet and reduce the cost of the precious or semi-precious metal from which it is constructed. The base-plate 6 is swaged or rolled upwardly on its opposite longitudinal edges to provide two ribs 8 from which project relatively slender vertical prongs 9. The ends of the prongs 9 are soldered to the edges of the top-plate as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, to provide a hollow, skeleton structure, somewhat in the nature 01. gallery work as commonly used in jewelry inai-iufacture. This construction gives a more substantial appearance to the bracelet, stitlens its structure, and also serves to hold the top-plates of the links away from the wrist so that the hinge-joints will not come into contact therewith.

The connecting-link 10 which joins the adjacent main. links 2 in the bracelet, as shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, is of a general rectangular shape, having two opposite, parallel cross-bars 11. As shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, the

lateral cross-bars 11 are joined at their ends by substantially diamond-shaped portions 12, the whole made integral in a stamping or punching. The crossbars 11 are recessed below the upper face of the connecting diamond-shaped portions 12, or in other words, the end connections 12 of the crossbars are raised above the plane of the top surface of the bars, see also Fig. 7

The inner edges of the diamond-shaped portions 12 of the connecting-links 10 are made to conform to the outer beveled edges on the sides of the main links 2 so that when the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, the top-plates 4 will fit snugly between the end-portions 12 of the connecting-links 10. The purpose of this arrangement is to adapt the raised end-portions 12 of the connectinglinks 10 to act as abutments to hold the main links from side-play or lateral displacement. It will be obvious, of course, that the shape of the end-portions 12 may vary in accordance with the conformation of the edges of the top-plates 4 of the main links 2.

The manner of assembling the links in the chain or bracelet is as next explained: Each main link 2 is joined to its adjacent main link by means of a connecting-link 10, the depending tabs or extensions 5 on the main links being inserted through the opening between the cross-bars 11 and then bent around said bars in loops 14, as shown in Fig. 2. The narrowed or beveled ends of the topplates 4 of the main links 2 are thus seated in the depressions between the diamondshaped end-portions 12 of the links 10 with the upper facesof the main links 2 and the end-portions 12 of the conneetingdinks substantially flush. Referring to Fig. 1, the diamond-shaped, end-portions 12 of the connecting-links 10 are thus held with their inner beveled faces 15 abutting the outer beveled edges at the ends of the main links 2. It will be understood that there is a slight clearance between the edges of the main link and the abutting edges 15 of the end-portions 12 of the connecting-link 10 to allow freedom of movement of the main links as they pivotabout the hinge-pins 11 on the connecting-links. At the same time, the engagement of the edges 15 of the raised end-portions 12 of the connecting-links 10 with the beveled edges of the main links 2 serves to hold the main links in alinement .and prevents them from skewing or twistchain or bracelet by completely concealing the hinge-elements or pivot connections between the links. At the same time, the ornamental contour of the raised portions of the connecting-links blends with the contour of the main links and presents a novel and highly artistic appearance which enhances the ornamental effect on the outer or exposed surface of the bracelet.

As before stated, the arched or crowned tops 4 of the main links 2 merge in an unbroken curved surface following the curve of the wrist on which the bracelet is worn so as to present an especially neat and finished effect without projecting edges or corners liable to catch in the garments of the wearer. It is believed that the above described arrangement of the connecting-links with their end-portions raised above their pivots and abutting the edges of the main links, which constitutes an important feature of the present improvement, is entirely new in the art. This arrangement has the mechanical advantage of strengthening and stiffening the structure of the bracelet and, in addition, adds to its ornamental appearance and artistic effect.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that my invention provides a particularly neat and simple structure for the type of article described, which makes for greater economy in its cost of manufacture and also improves its appearance in design and effect. The parts of the bracelet may be formed from sheet-metal stampings, struck up in dies and assembled with a minimum of hand labor, and while the complete structure is light in weight and conveniently fiat to fit close to the wrist of the wearer, it has at the same time a most substantial appearance and presents an extremely artistic and ornate effect.

It will be understood that the contour or shape of the links of the bracelet may be varied in accordance with any preferred design and that other modifications may be made in the form and structure of the parts of the chain or bracelet without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself to the exactembodiment herein shown and described, I claim:

1. A chain or bracelet comprising a series ofmain links having end loops, and intermediate links having portions extending through the loops on the main links to connect the latter in hinged relation, and raised abutments at the outer sides of the intermediate conecting-links adapted to fit closely against the edges at the sides of the main links to hold the series of links in alinement and prevent them from skewing or twisting out of position.

2. A flexible chain or bracelet comprising a series of main links, and coupling links arranged intermediate the main links, and pivotally conected thereto at their ends, said coupling links being recessed on the top at their connecting portions to provide upstanding abutments on their sides'iadapted to abut the sides of: the main links at the ends thereof to form a smooth, unbroken surface on the top of the chain or bracelet while also acting to hold the main links from twisting or skewing out of alinement.

3. In an article of the type described, the combination of a series of main links having projecting loops at their ends, and intermediate connecting-links. provided with parallel cross-bars adapted to be engaged with the loops at the ends of the main links, the end-portions of the connecting-links being raised above the top of the cross-bars and lying in a plane substantially flush with the top of the main links whereby the edges of the raised portions of the conectinglinks abut the outer edges of the main links to hold the latter from twisting or skewing out of alinement.

4. In an article of the type specified, the combination of a series of main links having relatively fiat top-plates provided with depending loops at their ends, base plates secured in spaced relation below the topplates, and intermediate connecting-links formed with lateral crossbars connected at their ends by raised abutments, the crossbars of the connecting-links being received within the loops of adjacent main links and the edges of the raised portions at their ends abutting the outer edges of the main links to hold the latter in alinement and prevent them from twisting or skewing out of position.

5. In a chain or bracelet of the type specitied, the combination of a series of main links of substantially rectangular shape having their outer edges beveled off at the ends and loops depending therefrom, and intermediate connecting-links having parallel cross-bars received within the loops at the ends of adjacent main links with diamondshaped end-portions connecting said crossbars and projecting above the top thereof to adapt their inner edges to abut the outer beveled edges of the main links to maintain all of the links in alinement and prevent them from skewing or twisting out of position.

In testimony whereof I affix n1 signature.

ALMYR L. N WMAN. 

